A guide to what is hot and happening in the arts world

Master pianist, Nduduzo Makhathini, visits KwaZulu-Natal

Pianist, Nduduzo Makhathini, and his band will visit the Luthuli Museum in Groutville, Seaman’s Corner in Hammarsdale and Rainbow Restaurant in Pinetown as part of a tour being held in association with Concerts SA, iSupport Music Business and the Rainbow Restaurant in Pinetown.

Fans can catch him at the following venues:

Friday, November 4 at the Luthuli Museum at 3233 Nokukhanya Luthuli Street, Groutville. Doors open at 6pm. Admission is free entrance.

Sunday, November 6 at the Rainbow Restaurant at 23 Stanfield Lane, Pinetown. Doors open at 1pm. Tickets R100 at webtickets.co.za or 083 463 8044.

Growing up in the small town uMgungundlovu, near Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Makhathini was surrounded by music as a child. Coming from a very musical family – his mother was a pianist and his father a guitarist – he was exposed to a range of music including traditional Zulu music.

He recalls turning the knob on the radio until it reached the end, where he would listen to Indian music. He was part of the choir at school and would sing at church. It was only after high school that he started to study jazz piano.

“I reached a point where my voice limited me from expressing the music, and that’s when I focused on the piano,’’ he added.

Makhathini feels his career has developed in what he describes as `an organic process’, starting with his upbringing and the influence of his mother as his first piano teacher.

“Over the years, I have learnt that if you submit yourself to the music or whatever your dream is, mother-nature has a way of taking care of the rest,” he said.

Makhathini has released six albums: Sketches of Tomorrow, Mother Tongue (nominated for best jazz album at the 2015 South African Music Awards), Listening To The Ground (nominated for best jazz album at SAMA 2016), Matunda Ya Kwanza, Icilongo-The African Peace Suite and Inner Dimensions.

On stage in KwaZulu-Natal the pianist will be joined by Justin Bellairs on alto sax, Siyanda Zulu on trumpet, Stanley Matlou on drums and Dalisu Ndlazi on double bass.

These performances by Nduduzo Makhathini are part of the Concerts SA venue circuit which aims to grow a love and support for live music in our communities, as well as anchor small and medium sized venues in urban and rural Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.

Concerts SA is a joint South African/Norwegian live music development project housed within the SAMRO Foundation.